Days lost to strikes hit highest in over a decade
The number of working days lost to strikes in October reached the highest in more than a decade, according to official figures.
It comes as workers in many other industries down tools, with bus drivers, Royal Mail workers, nurses and highways workers and baggage handlers also striking this week.Many public sector workers are taking action over pay, arguing that the rises they are being offered fall far short of the rising cost of living.
Both, however, remain far below the rate at which prices are rising - known as inflation - which has hit 11.1%, the fastest pace in more than 40 years. "We haven't really seen the influence of that in our GDP statistics yet. It is too early to say how it will hit the economy more broadly," she said.Overall, the unemployment rate rose to 3.7%. The number of job vacancies also fell, down 65,000 in September to November, which was the fifth consecutive fall for this measure.
Jack Kennedy, UK economist at recruitment firm Indeed, said there was "evidence of some people returning to the labour force from retirement". While private sector pay growth is still failing to match inflation, private pay packages are rising at 6.9% with public sector miles behind at 2.7%, which is one of the biggest gaps ever seen.
This elastic band must surely break at some point. More workers will leave the public sector, jeopardising key services or the government will have to buckle and agree to higher pay awards. It feels like something's got to give at some point.
Belgique Dernières Nouvelles, Belgique Actualités
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